Heating assembly for clothes driers or the like



June 29, 1954 T. R. SMITH 2,682,599

HEATING ASSEMBLY FOR CLOTHES DRIERS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 5, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 JNVENTQR.

J @MW-r W June 29, 1954 Q sMlTH 2,682,599

HEATING ASSEMBLY FOR CLOTHES 'DRIERS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 5, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 29, 1954 HEATING ASSEMBLY FOR CLOTHES DRIERS OR THE LIKE Thomas R. Smith, Newton, Iowa, assignor to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application February 5, 1953, Serial No. 335,185

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to heating elements for clothes driers and the like, and more particularly to such heating elements and a novel mounting therefor whereby the same may be easily and readily assembled and disassembled in such driers. As to all common subject-matter it is a partial continuation of my copending application Serial No. 259,580, filed December 3, 1951, for Clothes Drier.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel mounting for the heating elements of clothes driers, or the like, whereby the same are removably secured in position to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the same.

More particularly, the present invention contemplates the use of U-shaped heating elements having mounting means at both ends, which are so constructed that the heating elements may be inserted into place through an opening in one wall of the outer casing for the drier, snapped into securing relation with a securing device on the opposite wall of the casing, and held in place against longitudinal movement by a removable 'cover plate for the opening,

The invention is further characterized by the provision of abutments cooperating with the securing device to prevent lateral displacement of the heating elements and shoulders adjacent the ends of the heating elements cooperating with the cover plates to prevent longitudinal displacement thereof, thus providing a structure in which the heating elements are firmly held in place, yet providing for ready and easy assembly and disassembly of the same in the drier, or the like.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the invention as will later appear and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawings- Figure l is a fragmentary view in elevation of the rear of a clothes drier incorporating the subject-matter of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the clothes drier taken in the plane represented byline 2-2 of Figure 1 of the drawings, and disclosing a heating element therefor and its novel mounting in the drier;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the structure as disclosed in Figure 1, 'having certain parts removed to show the open ing in the rear wall of the casing for the drier to permit assembly of the heating element;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the heating element per se; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged end view of the heating element shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention involving a heating element and its mounting is shown in connection with a clothes drier, generally referred to by the reference numeral 2, which includes a container 4 including the front and rear walls 6 and 8, respectively, and providing a drying chamber 10 in which a perforated drum I2 is disposed for receiving clothes to be dried. The drum has a drive shaft [4 journaled in a bearing 16 mounted on the rear wall 8 of the casing. Mounted on the outer end of the shaft I4 is a drive pulley l8 having a driving connection including the belt 20 with a motor (not disclosed), whereby the drum may be rotated at the desired speed within the chamber NI.

The front wall of the drum I2 and the front wall 6 of the outer casing are provided with concentrically arranged access openings (not disclosed) through which clothes may be introduced into and removed from the interior of the drum. The outer casing and drum, as well as the various operating mechanisms, are mounted upon a suitable frame (not disclosed) at the bottom of the drier, and the entire assembly is enclosed by a cabinet 22 of any desired design, to present a pleasing appearance as a household appliance. A door 24 is provided in the outer casing whereby access may be had to the interior of the drum through the openings provided in the outer casing and drum.

The present invention is directed more particularly to the provision of suitable heating elements for evaporating the moisture in the clothes contained within the drum. In the present illustrated example of the invention, two heating elements are disclosed, as shown in. Figure 1 of the drawings, the same being disposed adjacent the top of the chamber Ill. Each of these heating elements and its respectivemounting is of identical construction, and reference therefore will be made in the further description to the heating element designated as 2 6 in Figure 2 of the drawings.

This heating element, as more fully shown in Figures 4 and 5, is arcuately formed, to conform substantially to the interior surface of the outer casing, and is U-shaped to provid an intermediate portion 28 at the closed end and the longitudinally extending portions 30 and 32. This heating element is introduced into the chamber I0 through an opening 34 provided in the rear wall 8 of the outer casing, the intermediate porti-on 28 being received by a spring catch having opposed fingers 3B and 38. This spring catch is secured by one or more bolts to the front wall 6 of the outer casing, and to prevent loosening of the same lock-washers 42 are provided for said bolts.

Secured to the intermediate portion 28 and disposed in spaced relation are guide tabs 44 and 46 forming abutments engaging with the edges of the finger 33 to prevent lateral displacement of the heating element at the closed end thereof. The outer ends of the portions 30 and 32 of the heating element extend through openings 48 and 5|], respectively, which are provided in a cover plate 52 for closing the opening 34 in the rear wall 8 of the outer casing. The cover plate is formed with a securing flange '35 and an intermediate recessed portion 31 extending longitudinally thereof. Secured adjacent the ends of portions 313 and 32 are shoulders 54 and 55, re spectively, which engage the outer surface of the rear wall 8 and the inner face of the recessed portion 31. When the cover plate 52 is drawn into tight engaging relation with the rear wall 8, the shoulders M and 55 prevent the heating element from moving longitudinally out of engagement with the flanges 36 and 38 of the spring catch.

The cover plate 52 may be secured to the wall ll by means of a plurality of screws 58, which provides a readily removable connection whereby the heating element may be easily and readily assembled and disassembled.

The outer ends of the portions 30 and 32 of the heating element are provided with connecting means, such as 6&3, whereby the heating element may be connected in a suitable control cir ouit for operating the clothes drier., As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the two heating elements are connected in series through the corn ductor 52 and in the control circuit by means of the conductors 6d, 66 and 63.

The heating elements are of the Calrod sheathenclosed type and, as will be apparent, the mounting is such as to firmly and rigidly secure the heating element in associated relation with the outer casing, yet providing for ready insertion into place or removal therefrom, if required, where a replacement becomes necessary.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may comprehend other constructions, arrangements or parts, details and features, without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. In a clothes drier or the like, the combination of an outer casing providing an interior drying chamber formed in part by front and rear walls of said casing, a rotatable drum mounted for rotation Within said casing adapted to receive clothes to be dried, heating means disposed within said chamber, said heating means comprising at least one substantially U-shaped heating ele ment having an intermediate portion, one of said walls having an opening whereby said heating element may be inserted within said chamber to be assembled in said drier, means for removably mounting said heating element in association with said casing, said means including a spring catch mounted on the other of said Walls embracing the intermediate portion of said heating element and a cover plate for said opening removably secured to said one of said Walls and having openings in which the ends of said heating element are mounted, abutments provided on said intermediate portion engageable with said spring catch to prevent lateral displacement of said heating element with respect thereto, andmeans for connecting conductors to the ends of said heating elements.

2. The combination of claim 1, in which the heating element is formed with shoulders adjacent the ends thereof engaging said cover plate when the same is drawn into engagement with the other of said walls to prevent longitudinal movement of said heating element.

3. In a clothes drier or the like, the combination of an outer casing providing an interior drying chamber formed in part by front and rear walls of said casing, a perforated drum mounted for rotation within said casing adapted to receive clothes to be dried, heating means disposed within said chamberysaid heating means comprising at least one arcuately formed substantially U-shaped heating element having an intermediate portion, said rear wall having an opening whereby said heating element may be inserted within said chamber to be assembled in said drier, means for removably mounting said mounting means further including a cover plate for said opening removably secured to said rear wall and having openings in which the ends of said h ating element are mounted, said heating element being formed with shoulders adjacent the ends thereof engaging said cover plate when the same is drawn into engagement with said rear wall to prevent longitudinal movement of said heating element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,731,120 Abbott Oct. 8, 19,29 1,819,324 Fleece Aug. 18,, 1931/ 1,951,456 Toy Mar. 20, 1934 2.398.880 Broglie Apr. 23, 1946 

